Israeli teens arrested for intrusion in Cyprus hotel
Another case of misdemeanor by Israeli youth abroad ends with arrest by local police. 'Foreign Ministry must resolve case,' says one of the teens’ attorneys
Teens awaiting military draft arrested in Cyprus. Three 18-year-olds from Ashkelon and the Nitzan trailer community were arrested last Friday in Cyprus for allegedly breaking into a room in the hotel they were staying at.
Shuki Zada, a relative of detainee Snir Batito, told Ynet that the three were on a pre-draft trip.
“They drank some whiskey one evening and entered the room adjacent to theirs, where some other Israelis were staying. The guests in the room called the police, who arrested them on suspicion of intrusion. Since then, the family and we are trying release them in every way possible.”
Batito’s lawyer, Attorney Moshe Yochai, approached the Foreign Ministry on Monday for help.
“I think that the Foreign Ministry must intervene in such a case. It is highly sensitive, since Snir lost his mother Shlomit while she was passing near (the former Gaza Strip settlement of) Nisanit in 2004.
"His mother’s murder was rather recent, and I believe the government must try and help. In my opinion, a moderate incident such as this one can be resolved by the Foreign Ministry.”
According to Yochai, the three teens come from good families with no prior criminal records, who traveled to Ayia Napa on vacation. Yochai added that a friend of the three who was staying with them said the room's occupants teased the teens, provoking and threatening them.
“They have been under arrest for four days and will be brought before a judge on Friday,” said Batito’s lawyer. “We are trying to get them a lawyer to help them. Unfortunately, the Cyprus police see this incident as severe, though it appears solvable with a fine or something alike... I really hope the Foreign Ministry will reconsider the matter and try to help the family in this grave situation.”
The family members and Batito’s attorney are in close contact with the community rabbi, who is trying to help them locate a local lawyer and help them deal with the Cypriote authorities.
Last summer, a few Israeli misbehaved in the same hotel and set a room on fire. The owner decided to keep their passports until he got a financial compensation of NIS 20,000 (about $5,792)
